Electrical swivel connecter



Oct. 9, 1934. w. H. MAYHEW ELECTRICAL SWIVEL CONNECTER .Original Filed April 17. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILLARD H. MAYHEW.

A TTORNEY.

Oct. 9, 1934. w MAYHEw 1,975,964

ELECTRICAL SWIVEL CONNECTER Original Filed April 17. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VV/LLHRD H. Mnvusw.

BY I

A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct 9, 1934 ELECTRICAL SWIVEL CONNECTER Willard n. Mayhew, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 17, 1931, Serial No. 530,767 Renewed February 21, 1934 4 Claims. (Cl. 173-324) This invention relates. to improvements in secured in position by a hollow metal rivet 22 electrical connecting devices. positioned in the aperture 19. The terminal The general object of the invention is to promember 21 is provided with a threaded recess vide an improved electrical swivel connecter. 23 in which a screw 24 is positioned. The rivet Another object of the invention is to provide 22 is spun over at one end to form a head 25 0 an electrical swivel connecter which is simple in which engages the contact member 21 and at construction, sure in operation and by which the opposite end the rivet is spun over to form the ends of a plurality of electrical conducting a contact ring 26. wires may be connected. Positioned in the reduced annular front recess Other objects and the advantages of this in- 20 I provide a metal contact ring 27 which 65 vention will be apparent from the following deincludes a rearwardly extending arm 28 which scription taken in connection with the acccmis positioned in an aperture 29 in the body and panying drawings wherein: extends into the rear recess where it is pro- Fig. 1.is a central sectional view through my vided with a terminal portion 30 having a 1! improved swivel connecter. threaded aperture 31 therein in which a screw Fig. 2 is a face View of the body portion of 32 is positioned This ring 127 as will be seen is the connecter with the plug portion removed. in one piece with the arm 28 and terminal 30 Fig. 3 is a rear view of the plug portion of the so that cheap manufacture of this portion and connecter removed from the body portion. quick assembly is secured. Fig. 4 is a section takenon line 4-4 of Fig. 1. The contact ring 27 is retained in the recess 75 Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. 16 by a fiber washer 33 which engages a portion Fig. 6 is a rear view of the connector with the of the face of the ring 27 adjacent its inner cover member removed. periphery and is retained in position by the spun Fig. '7 is a central sectional view through a contact ring 26 of the rivet 22. modified form of swivel connecter. The plug portion 13 of the connecter like 80 Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7. the body.12 is made of an electrical insulating Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. '1. material such as Bakelite. The rear por- Fig. 10 is a central sectional view through antion of the plug 13 is positioned in the front other modified form of swivel connecter. recess 16 of the body 12 and includes a rear Fig. 11 is a face view of the connecter shown cavity having a transverse boss 36 therein. in Fig. 10, with the cap removed. In the front of the plug 13 I provide a reduced Fig. 12 is a section taken on line 12-12 of recess 37 and extending from the recess 37 Fig. 10. through the boss 36 and opening into the re- Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the cess 35 I provide an aperture 38. On opposite 35 contact rings used in the device shown in Fig. sides of the recess 37 I provide polygonal aper- 10, and I tures 39 which extend through the boss 36 and Fig. 14 is a similar view of another one of open into the rear recess 35. the contact rings. Positioned on the boss 36 in the rear recess Referring to the drawings by reference char- 35 I provide a metal spring finger member 40 4O aeters I have indicated my improved swivel conwhich includes an aperture 41 coaxial with the necter generally at 10. As shown theconnecter aperture 38. The member 40 is also apertured 10 comprises a body portion 12, a plug portion to receive a portion of a reduced shank 43 of an 13, and a cover member 14. The body portion electrode 44 shown as rectanguler (see Fig. 5). 12 is made of an electrical insulating material The reduced shank 43 of the electrode 44 is posi- 45 such as Bakelite and includes a. rear recess tioned in one of the polygonal apertures 39 and 15 and a front recess 16. In the rear recess 15 the end thereof is riveted over the member 40 to I provide a boss 17 in which I provide a slot 18 retain the member 40 in position. which extends through one side of the boss 1'7 Also positioned on the boss 36 in the rear and opens into the recess 15. Communicating recess 35 I provide a contact member 45 which y 50 with the front recess 16 and the slot 18 in the v is made of a spring metal and includes a pair boss 17 I provide an aperture 19. In the rear of resilient outwardly bent contact fingers 46. wall of the front recess 16 I provide a reduced Trie -member 45, like the member 40, is apertured annular recess 20. to receive a portion of a reduced shank 48 of Positioned in the slot 18 of the boss 17 I an electrode 49. The reduced shank 48 of the 5 provide a metal terminal member 21 which is electrode 49 is positioned in one of the polygonal 5 the plug portion 13 I provide a rivet 50 which is positioned in the hollow rivet 22 of the body 12 and in the aperture 38 of the plug 13, and ex tends through theapertures 41 in the contact,

.metaLand' includes aportion 82 "which is posimember 40. Any suitable-type of rivet may be used but as shown the rivet 50 includes an enlarged Head 51 at one end which is'posit'ion'ed in the front recess 37 of the plug 13.

the rivet 22, thereby firmly connecting the plug 13 to the body 12.

Adjacent. the end opposite the head 51 the rivet is hollow and the 'end thereof is spun-over the head of' member 76 is clamped to the body portion by a metal terminal plate 77 which is secured in position by a rivet 78 which is shown as moulded in the body portion (see Figs. 7 and 9).

in which a terminal screw 80 is positioned.

In the other of the channelways 70 I provide a contact member 81 which is made of spring tioned in a recess 83 in the body and extends into the groove 74 where it is provided with a pair of oppositely extending arcuate contact ringers 84. The contact member 81 is clamped to the body portion by a metal terminal plate 85 which is secured in position by a rivet 86 which is' shown as moulded in the body portion (see When the plug 13 is thus secured to the body Figs; 7 and 9.) "The terminal plate 85 is pro- 12 the contact member engages the head 26 of the rivet 22, thus forming an electrical circuit fromthe terminal 21 to the electrode 48; and the contact fingers 46 of. the member engage the'contact ring 27, thereby forming an electrical circuit fromthe terminal 30 to the electrode 49. 1

jacent one end, a conical portion and a reducedneck-56.*- The,normal diameter of the body portion 53 0f the cover 14 is smaller than the outside diameter of the body 12 sothat the cover'body 53 isexpanded whendt is placed on the body 12 whereupon it tightly grips the body 12, and the, inturned flange 54 ,is, positioned .over the front of the body 12 as shown in Fig. '1. Electrical conductive. wires 57 are adaptedito pass through theneck 56 of the cover and are connected tothe terminals 21 and 30 by screws 24 and 32. Thewires 57 may passunder the -lug 21 and around the screws 32 and 24 to efiect -a half hitchif, desired. The wires-57are preferablyl knotted as indicated at 58 and the knot 58 is' adapted to engage the conical portion 55 of the cover 14 adjacent the neck 56 so that any pull'on the wires 57 will 'be'xerted onthecover 14 by the knot 58 instead of on the ends of the wires. where theyare secured to the terminals.

. In Figs. 7,8 and 9 I have indicated a modified formiof swivel connecter generally at 60. As

shown thisconnecter includes a body portion "Gland .-a plug member 62. The body portion 61 is made of an electrical insulating material such, .asbakelitezand includes two sections 63 and 63'; Each of the sections 63 and 63 are provided with anaperture 64 and a counter bore 65. A bolt 66 is, positioned in the aper tures 64 with the head thereofpositioned in one of the counter bores 65. and a nut 67 is positioned on the bolt 66 in the other counter .bore

The section v63 is provided with a polygonal boss 68 which is positioned in arecess 69 in the section 63' to prevent movement of the sections 63 and 63' about the axis of the bolt 66.

The body 61 is provided with a channelway- The cover 14 is made of relatively soft rubber. and includes ahollow body portion '53 having an inwardly. projecting bevelled flange 54..ad.-.

vided with a threaded aperture 87 in which a terminal screw 88 is positioned.

The plug portion 62 of the connecter 60 is .'shownas'includingthree disks 90, 91, and 92,

-. an aperture 98 in the disk 90 andthe arm 97 of the electrode 93 engages the cup member .95.

. The electrode 94 extends through an aperture 99 in the disk 90, through an'aperturegloo in the disk 91, through an aperture 102 in the cup member 95- and through an aperture 103 in the disk 92. The electrode 94 includes an angularly bent arm-1,041which engages the, innerface of.

thedislc 92 and is provided with an aperture 105. The disks 90, 91 and 92 are each provided with an aperture 106 and the disk 90 is provided with a counter bored recess107.

For securing the, various parts of; the plug 62 together I provide "a rivet 108, whichincludes an enlarged head 109, and is hollow adjacent the end opposite the head. The rivet 1108 is.

positionedin the apertures 106 of the disks 90, 91 and 92 .and in the apertures 105 of the arm 104 of the electrode with the head 109 engaging the face of ,the arm 104. The end of the rivet 108 opposite the head 109 is spun outwardly to formya head which engages the bottom of the recess 107 in the disk 90 thereby clamping all the portions of the plug together.

The disk s90 and 92 are of a size tent in the recess 72 ofthe 61 and the disk91, together with the cup member 95, is positioned in the groove 74 of the body. When thus positioned the contact finger 76 of' the contact plate.

engages the periphery of the head 109 of the rivet 108 thereby forming a complete electrical conductivejclrcuit from the terminal plate 77 to the electrode 94. The contact fingers 84 engage the periphery of the cup member 95 thereby forming a complete electrical conductive circuit from the contact plate to the electrode 93. g In Fig. 10 I have-indicated another modifica- .tion of swivel connecter generally at 1 10.- As shown thisconnecter. includes an annular body portion 112, an annular cap member.1-13 and a cover 114, all of which may be.-;made of an electrical insulating material such as Bakelite."

The front of the body portion 112 is formed into a pluralityof shoulders 115 which are arranged instepped formation-and incthe rear of The .plate 77 is provided with a threaded aperture 79 the body I provide a plurality of recesses 116 which are also arranged in stepped formation.

In the body 112 adjacent each of the shoulders 115 I provide an aperture 117 which forms a communicating passageway from its associated shoulder 115 to the associated rear recess 116.

Within the body portion 112 I provide a bore 118 which communicates with a recess 119 opening into the smaller of the recesses 116. Adjacent the front of the body 112 I provide a pcripheral notched portion 120 and adjacent the rear of the body I provide threads 121.

Positioned on each of the shoulders 115 I provide a contact ring 122 which is made of spring metal and is provided with a plurality of contact fingers 123 which are stamped therefrom and inclined outwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 13. Extending from the ring 122 I provide an aperture 125 in which a terminal screw 126 is positioned. Before the contact ring 122 is positioned in the body portion 112 the arm 124 extends straight asindicated by the dotted lines 127 in Fig. 13. When the contact ring is positioned on the body portion the arm 124 is positioned in the correct aperture 117 of the body and then the end of the arm is bent at an angle to form a terminal portion 128. Adjacent each of the apertures 117 towards the rear of the body, the body portion is notched as indicated at 129 to provide a space for the shank .of the terminal screw 126.

The rear of the cap 113 is provided with an annular flange 130 and a plurality of recesseswhich are arranged in, stepped formation to provide a plurality of shoulders 132 which correspond in number and size to the shoulders 115 of the body portion 126.

At the front of the cap 113 I provide a recess 133 in which I provide a plurality of shoulders 134 which are arranged in stepped formation to of the cap 113 I provide threads 138 similar to positioned. Before the contact'ring140 is positioned on the cap v113 the arm 141 continues straight as indicated by the dotted lines 144 in Fig. 14. When the contact ring 140 is positioned on the correct shoulder 132 of the cap 113 the arm 141 is positioned in the associated apertures 135 and then the end of the arm is bent at an angle to form a terminal portion 145. Adjacent each of the apertures 135 towards the front of the cap I provide a notch 146 to provide space for the shank of the terminal screw 143.

When the cap 113 and the body 112 are in operative relationship the flange 130 of the cap is positioned in the notched portion 120 of the body 112 and the contact ringers 123 of the rings 122 engage the contact rings 140 thus forming complete electrical conductive circuits from the terminal portions 128 of the rings 122 to the terminal portions 145 of the rings 140.

For operatively connecting the body 112 and the cap 113 I provide a rivet 147 which is positioned in the aperture 118 of the body and in the aperture 136 of the cap 113. The rivet 147 is shown as hollow and one end thereof is spun over to provide an enlarged head which is positloned in the recess 119 of the body 112 and the opposite end of the rivet is spun over to provide an enlarged head which is positioned in the recess137 of the cap 113.

Whenv the body and cap are thus assembled the contact fingers 123 of the contact ring 122 are under compression and resiliently urge the cap 113 away from the body 112.

The cover 114 is hollow and is provided with a threaded portion 148 and a reduced neck 140. The cover 114 may be secured to the body portion 112 by engagement of the cover threads 148-with the threads 121 of the body or the .cover'may be secured to the cap 113 as indicated by the-dotted lines 150, by the engagement of the cover threads 14:; with the threads 1323 of the cap. Furthermore, either the body 112 or the cap 113 may be secured to any desired device having suitable threads thereon to correspond to the threads 121 or 148 or a cover 114 may be positioned on the body 112 and a similar cover on the cap 113.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel electrical swivel connecter which is simple in construction and highly efficient in use. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electric swivel connecter, a body portion and a plug portion, said body and said plug being made of an electrical insulating material, said body having an aperture therein, a hollow rivet in said aperture, said hollow rivet including an enlarged head engaging said body at the front end to forrii a contact ring, a terminal member adjacent the rear of said body, said hollow rivet including a second head engaging said terminal, a second contact ring adjacent the front of said body and spaced from said first contact ricz, said body having a secondaperture therein spaced from said first aperture, an arm contacting with said second contact ring, said arm being positioned in said second aperture and extending to the rear of said body and including a terminal portion, a resilient contact member on said plug adjacent the rear thereof, an electrode mounted on said plug and extending. outwardly from the front. thereof, means connecting said contact member with said electrode, a second contact member on said plug ad- Jacent the rear thereof and spaced from said first contact member, a second electrode mounted on said plug and extending outwardly from the front thereof, means connecting said second contact member with said second electrode, said second contact member including a resilient finger, said plug having an aperture therein, means in said hollow rivet of said body to rotatably connect said body and said plug, said first contact member of said plug engaging said first contact ring of said body and said resilient finger engaging said second contact ring of said body, said first resilient contact memberand said resilient finger of said second contact member resiliently urging said body and said plug away from each other.

2. In a connecter, a body portion made of insulating material and having a partition extending thereacross, a contact ring engaging said partition, an arm connected to said ring and passing through said partition, an insulating washer engaging said ring, a rivet passing through said partition and washer, a second arm engaging said rivet, said second arm being spaced from said first arm, a plug on said body, said plug having a central contact member engaging one end of Saidjf rivet and having a pair of spaced lateral contact members thereon en-.

gaging said ring, and means to rotatably mount said plug on said body.

In a connector, a body portion made of insulating material and having a partition extending thereacross, said partition having an aperture therein, a contact ring engaging said partition and having an aperture therein, said ring including an arm passing through said partition, an insulating washer engaging said ring, said washer having an aperture in alignment with said partition aperture, a rivet passing through said aligned apertures, a second arm engaging said rivet, said second arm being spaced from said first arm, a plug on said body, said plug having a central contact member engaging one end of said rivet and having a pair of lateral contact members thereon engaging said ring, and means to rotatably mount said plug on said body. a

a. In a connecter, a body portion made of in sulating material and having a partition extend ing thereacross, said partition having an aperture therein, a contact ring engaging said partition and having an aperture therein, said ring including an arm passing through said partition, 

